Dear Editor
The Western Cape has the lowest expanded unemployment rate in the country at 29%, which is a decrease of 1.4%, compared to a 45.5% rate nationally. This is according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the first quarter of 2022 released by StatsSA today.
South Africa is currently in the midst of a destructive cost of living crisis, with inflation reaching 5.9% year-on-year in April, right at the upper edge of the SA Reserve Bank’s inflation target. With the imminent fuel price hike putting even more pressure on consumers, jobs are a lifeline. While ANC policy continues to lead to increased hardship and poverty across the country, the Western Cape is showing things can be done differently. The fact is that the Western Cape Government is doing more for its citizens well-being than any other province, and that starts with creating the conditions where people can be put to work. The Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism is geared towards job creation.
The Department’s SMME Booster fund has allocated more than R59 million since 2019 to support 730 SMME’s across the province to grow our economy and create jobs for our residents. The Department also allocated more than R96 million to its Skills Development and Innovation Programme for 2022/23, which helps to ensure that we are teaching our people valuable skills that are needed in the Western Cape economy.
These are just two examples of the good work the Western Cape Government is doing, and while there is still much work to be done, at least the Western Cape shows better things are possible.
Regards
Gillion Bosman, MPP
DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Finance, Economic Opportunities and Tourism
